Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has dismissed speculation about a leadership challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "froth and nonsense", despite mounting pressure following poor local election results.
Speaking on Thursday morning, Nandy stated that Starmer will not have resigned by the school summer holidays, pushing back against claims of an imminent challenge to his leadership.
"He was very clear with the cabinet on Tuesday, that if people want to challenge him there is a process for doing that, there is a way to trigger a leadership contest," Nandy said. "Nobody has done that yet, despite the absolute feverish speculation."
She added: "Most of it has turned out to be just froth and nonsense. We have got to get on with the job."
The comments come after Labour's disappointing performance in recent local elections, which has led to intense speculation about Starmer's future. However, Nandy's remarks suggest that the leadership remains stable for now, with no formal challenge having been initiated.
Nandy's dismissal of the speculation as "froth and nonsense" underscores the government's desire to focus on policy delivery rather than internal party disputes. The prime minister is expected to continue his agenda without disruption from leadership manoeuvres.
